Hydraulic transmission



July 31, 1945. R. R. EASTIN HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Filed Dec. 16 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROLL/E E4sT/rv July 31, 1945. R. R. EASTIN HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Filed Dec. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 62 INVENTOR. KILL/E EAS /1v for braking purposes.

Patented July 31, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSMISSION nam a. Eastin, Detroit, Mich, assignor it mm 2 W. Hurley, Detroit, Mich., as trustee Application December 16, 1941, Serial No. 423,192 3 Claims. (01. 192-8.2)

My invention relates to anew and useful improvement in a hydraulic transmission, and is intended as a means for hydraulically transmitting power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a'structure of this type which will be compact, light, durable, easily and quickly installed and highly eflicient in use. Another object of the invention is the provision of a centrally positioned splasher member rotating in unison with the driving shaft and'having vanes on its opposite faces for cooperating with a vane bearing member having its vanes on opposite sides and connected to a driven shaft.

It is another'object of the present invention to provide a splasher member formed in segments and so arranged that upon attaining a predetermined speed the splasher member will automatically move into frictional engagement with the driven clutch section and serve to drive it'in unison with the driving shaft.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a hydraulic mechanism or this type of a brake structure whereby the mechanism may be utilized Other objects will appear-hereinafter. It is recognized that various changes and modifications may be made in the detail of structure shown without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is intended that such changes and variations shall be embraced within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which:

Fig.1 isa longitudinal, central, vertical, sectional view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken on lin 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-4 of 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of g. 1Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken .on line I! of Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8-6 of Fig. 1, showing a slightly modified form with parts broken away and parts shown in side elevation.

II ll 'lge. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of a fly wheel and by the use of the present invention the fly wheel may be dispensed with as parts of the invention itself will function as a fly wheel. It will also appear that the use 01' a clutch such as is ordinarily used on an automobile is eliminated, the present invention serving as a clutch.

With the present invention also, the usual type of gearing used in a transmission box i eliminated and this also will appear as the description of the invention proceeds. In the drawing I have illustrated the invention housed in a housing l5 which is mounted stationary on any suitable part of the engine. Projecting into this housing is the drive shaft it which is rotated by the engine and on which is fixedly mounted the starter gear ll. Positioned within the housing i5 is a container embodying the side walls l8 and I9. Projecting inwardly from the inner face of each'of these side walls i8 and I! are radially directed blades or vanes 20 and 2| respectively. A circular wall portion 22 lies between the side walls 18 and IS. The shaft l6 projects through a tubular fitting 23 which is fixedly mounted on and rotates with the end wall l8. Positioned in this tubular fitting 23 is a spring 24 having, at its opposite ends, the sealing links 25 and 26 which 7 serve as a seal for preventing leakage of oil.

Pig. 8 is an elevatlonal view taken on line 0-8 of Fig. 6.,

. The invention is adapted for use primarily with internal combustion engines with which a drive shaft is utilized. V This drive shaft usually carries The shaft i6 projects through the hub 21 formed on the splasher wheel 28 which is flared at its periphery as at 29 and provided with a channel 30. Projecting outwardly from one face of the wheel 28 are the radially directed vanes or blades 3| and projecting outwardly from the opposite face of the wheel 28 are the radially directed blades or vanes 32. As shown the container is formed in two sections, l8 and I9, these sections being suitably boltedtogether.

Positioned in the channel or groove 30 are the presser segments 33 each of which has an arcuate periphery provided with spaced apart pockets 34. A radially projecting stem 35' extendsinwardly from each of the segments 33. Thisstem is provided with a nut 36 threaded on its inner end which serves to engage one end of a spring 31, the opposite end of which engages a washer 38. Held in. fixed relation to the wheel 28 lie Pins 39 extending into pockets formed in the washer 38. The construction is suchthat when the se ment 33 moves radially outwardly it does so against the compression of the spring 31 so that the spring serves to normally retain the seamental portions in a position spaced from the inneisurface of the cylindrical part 22 of the drum like structure.

The hub 21 is suitably keyed to the shaft ll so as to rotate therewith while the drum like container is rotatable on the shaft II. It will be noted that the vanes or blades 82 are oppositely disposed to the blades 2| and spaced therefrom at adjacent edges. II are oppositely faced to the vanes or blades 20 and spaced therefrom at adjacent edges.

Mounted on the housing II is an auxiliary housing 42 which serves to engage a set of gearing. 'Ihe drum like container is provided on the wall I! with a hub 43 which is fixed to this drum like container and rotates in unison therewith. Keyed to a portion of the hub 43 is a stub shaft II on which is rotatably mounted a gear 40 meshingwith a gear 41 fixedly mounted on the driven shaft 48. Rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 45 is a gear meshing with a gear Ill fixedly mounted on the driven shaft l8.

Slidably mounted on the stub shaft I between the gears and It is a shiftable collar which may be shifted by any'suitable mechanism. This collar 5| carriesa pair of radially directed ribs 52 which may be shifted into position for engaging in the spaces 53 between the internal teeth 54. of the gear ll, this gearing being an internal gear and an external gear. The gear 4! is similarly constructed so that when the collar II is shifted in onedirection the ribs 52 will eng e the internal teeth of the gear 4| and when shifted in the opposite direction, will engage the internal teeth of the gear 4!. The gear it engages an idler gear and this idler gear is in engagement with the gear 51 so that when shifting the collar to one side or the other a reverse rotation of the driven shaft 48 may be eflected. It is. of course, believed obvious that the ratio between the various gears may be such as desired and determined upon.

In operation when the engine is operated and the shaft ll rotated, the wheel .28 will be rotated. The container will, of course, be filled with liquid. As the wheel 28 rotates the vanes or blades SI and 32 will cause the liquid to be driven and through the engagement of the liquid with the blades 2| and 2! the drum like container em odying the walls II and ltwillbecausedto rotate. Itwillbe' noted that the structure is of a dual nature as the member 2., vertically divides the container into a pair of separate and separately operating compartments. It is believed obvious that were it desired to make the container larger and place a plurality of wheels 28 on the shaft I, this could be accomplished so that the, structure may be mounted in units of any desired number. As the walls II and It begin to rotate the stub shaft AI will be rotated and through the gear described the driven shaft 4| will be caused to rotate. This shaft 48 may be connected to any suitable mechanism which it is desired to operate. Experience has shown that the method of transmission described is one in which a minimum loss of power ismet in the transmission and a high eillcient in transmitting power from a driving gear to a driven ear is obtained.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the stems II have been replaced by bolts 2| which are projected through the segments, the constructiun operating otherwise in the same manner as described.

Projecting inwardly from the wall of the housing II is a bracket II to which is attached one end of the brake arms ll and 82 each being provided on its inner face, with the brake lining l8 and I4 respectively. Mounted on the wall 22 of the brake like structure is a covering ll of brake lining against which the brake linings II and M Likewise, the vanes 01' blades I may be brought into engagement. Links I! and II serve to connect the ends of the arms 82 and II eccentrically to the disc 89 which is provided with the shaft III on which the disc 69 rotates on its center, this rotation being effected by the rocking of thearmJl. By rocking the arm II the arms may be brought into approach so that the brake linings 62 and 64 will engage the covering of brake lining t5 and thus serve to brake or retard the rotation of the drum like structures. This makes it possible to bring the structure to a stationary position when it is desired to shift the collar II from forward to reverse position.

When the drive shaft it rotates at a predetermined speed the segment portions I3 will move outwardly and frictionally engage the inner surface of the portion 22 so that the drum is driven in unison with the wheel 28. In this way there is provided a direct drive. The pockets 34 may serve as vacuum cups to facilitate the gripping between the wheel 28 and drum portion 22 or, if desired, these pockets may be filled with a suitable friction material such as ground cork or the like.)

with the drive mechanism such as I have illustrated the various advantages are obtained, Compactness, power and economy in operation is effected and a structure which is easily and quickly assembled and formed in a durable and rugged manner provided.

What Iclaim is:

l. A hydraulic transmission of the class described, comprising; a driving shaft! a liquid receiving housing having oppositely disposed walls and rotatably mounted on said shaft; a plurality of radially directed spaced vanes projecting inwardly from the inner face of said walls; an agitator mounted on said shaft for rotation in unison therewith: a plurality of spaced radially directed vanes projecting outwardly from opposite faces of said agitator and terminating in spaced relation to opposed vanes on said walls; the periphery of said agitator being grooved to form a c'h'annel; a plurality of radially movable segments positioned in and filling said channel and, movable radially outwardly, upon-the rotation of said agitator at a predetermined speed, into engagement with the inner surface of-said housing for effecting a rotating of said housing in unison withsaid agitator.

2. A hydraulic transmission of the class described comprising; a driving shaft; a liquid receiving housing having oppositely disposed walls and rotatabiy mounted on said sh'af-t; a plurality of radially directed spaced vanes projecting inwardly from the inner face of said walls: an agitatorrmounted on said shaft for rotation in unison therewith; a plurality ,of spaced radially directed vanes projecting outwardly from opposite faces of said agitator and terminating in spaced relation to opposed vanes on said walls; the periphery of said agitator being grooved to form a channel; a plurality of radially movable segments positioned in and filling said channel and, movable radially outwardly, upon the rotation of said agitator at a predetermined speed, into engagement with the inner surface of said housing for eflecting a rotation of said housing in unison with said agitator, and resilient, means for resisting radial outward movement of said segments.

3. A hydraulic transmission of the class described, comprising: a driving shaft; a liquid receiving housing having oppositely disposed walls and rotatably mounted on said shaft; a plurality of radially directed spaced vanes projecting inwardly from the inner face of said walls; an

ially outwardly upon the rotation of said agitator at a predetermined speed, into engagement with the inner surface of said housing for effecting a rotation of said housing in unison with said agitator; and resilient means for resisting radial outward movement of said segments.

ROLIJE R. ms'rm. 

